Day 265 - Friday, September 12th

[papalobo]

[A Chinese man who is definitely a mature adult and not a teenager checks in to the Hyatt, one of their more exclusive rooms, along with his half-white half brother who is also certainly not a teenager and most definitely not the notorious gang leader wanted on suspicion of a September 11th New York City bombing in retaliation for an angry rogue sect of anti-American zealots.

The entire suite floor has been rented out, and it requires a special key card in the elevator and on the stairs to enter that floor. But they can rent one of the still very luxe rooms directly beneath.

A familiar white limo is in the car garage, though the opportunity to gawk or investigate is slim, between the security cameras and live guards.

There's still no contact from Max, but the Department of Homeland Security has become involved, and has begun to enter Ash's territory with intent to arrest any known figures within his gang to bring in for questioning.]

Day 284, Wednesday, Oct 1st

Comments

[papalobo]

Such a good time you wanted to relive it.

[jadedlynx]

I wanted to strangle you 10 minutes into the trip.

[papalobo]

I made it that long?

[jadedlynx]

It took that long for me to listen to you.

[papalobo]

Wanna strangle me yet?

[jadedlynx]

You're not singing yet. I'm become desensitized to the rest.

[ This is nice. It feels almost normal. How long will it last? ]

[papalobo]

I might hold onto that one, then. Wouldn't want you getting numb to it too.

[jadedlynx]

I promised myself I'd give into the urge next time so do it at your own risk.

[papalobo]

[A sidelong glance.]

[jadedlynx]

[ There's no smile. Maybe he's serious. ]

[papalobo]

Making it real hard to hold out, with promises like that.

[jadedlynx]

You're into that now? Prison changed you.

[papalobo]

Not a lot you can do to me when I'm behind the wheel.

[jadedlynx]

I'm trained to take control of an out-of-control meeting.

[papalobo]

You'd probably at least have to take your hands off my throat to do that, though.

[jadedlynx]

[ His head shakes. ]

The assumption behind the training is that I'm fighting somebody in the vehicle.

[papalobo]

That does sound kinda impressive.

[jadedlynx]

[ It's all also a lie. Almost all of Blanca's lessons were about offense, not defense. ]

Nobody wants to die the first day out of prison.

[papalobo]

[ I dunno, somethin' poetic about gettin' taken out by some really specific skill that guy taught you that you never got a chance to use otherwise.

But he bites those words back. Mentioning him is forbidden. It's just easier to pretend he doesn't exist. It's just easier to pretend things are fine.]

Depends how much of a wreck the house is. Havin' to clean it up don't sound fun.

[jadedlynx]

It's handled.

Thanks for hiding the paintings. I didn't want those guys seeing them.

[papalobo]

You're not mad, then?

[jadedlynx]

About what?

[papalobo]

I did kinda ditch the cats again, out there... 'n didn't leave a way for you to know how to go find 'em. [He's not that concerned with it; Ash knowing things he shouldn't has become old hat now.] ... How did you find 'em?

[jadedlynx]

You were protecting them.

[ He had limited mobility. It wasn't the best plan, but it was the best plan he could manage. ]

I'd have been pissed if you ditched them at home without knowing of a plan, but it's not like you could make a lot of moves when running from Homeland Security.

[papalobo]

I had to go to my place before yours. You didn't want your guys seeing those paintings either, I figured...